Pictures: The Apprentice 2011 Contestants

Tuesday 3 May 2011 11:20 am

Pictures: The Apprentice 2011 Contestants

Tom Pellereau

Winner of Apprentice 2011. Tom Pellereau
Age: 31 Occupation: Inventor Lives: London
London born Tom’s first job was working on a farm sorting agricultural bulbs from mud. A keen inventor and sports enthusiast, Tom succeeded in taking a prototype made in his kitchen to the shelves of two leading pharmacy outlets in the UK. He describes himself as ‘creative, adventurous, loyal and enthusiastic’, and cites Thomas Edison as an icon.
He Says: “For me the Apprentice is a bit like the Olympics or the World Cup for entrepreneurs… I want to challenge myself, find out if I am ready to step up to this level.”

Edward ‘Atta’ Hunter

Fired week1. He just couldn't 'roll with the punches'. Edward 'Atta' Hunter
Age: 25 Occupation: Accountant Lives: Reading
Half-British and half-Afghan, Reading born and raised Edward’s first job was as a gardener at the age of 12. He successfully applied for a role in a global professional services firm headquartered in London straight after university and was hired as Senior Associate in the audit team before becoming an accountant at a FTSE 30 energy company. Trained at one of the world’s leading accountancy firms, Edward describes himself as a ‘man with strength of character and conviction who is honest and direct’.
He Says: “I’m the wheeler dealer who accidentally became a finance professional and wants out.”

Alex Britez Cabral

Fired week 2 for being invisible during tasks but David Brent like in the boardroom. Alex Britez Cabral
Age: 28 Occupation: Estate Agent Manager Lives: London
Motorbike enthusiast Alex who lived in Paris as a child, describes himself as ‘ambitious, driven, and extremely focused’. Born and raised in London, Alex’s first job was making tea in a small estate agents before becoming a thriving agent himself. His greatest achievement is taking a business losing money and turning it around to a fast growing profitable business within twelve months.
He Says: “Fear is a great motivator. If you are successful, you are unpopular, so unpopularity is a good thing.”

Gavin Wintstanley

Fired week 3 for being disorganised and not a leader. Gavin Wintstanley
Age: 27 Occupation: Managing Director – opticians Lives: Liverpool
Gavin’s first foray into working life was as a salesman at a high street clothing store and was made a manager at the age of 16. A passionate football fan, Gavin started up his own online opticians, which now has two high-street stores, after noticing the profit margins on glasses when working in a London department store.
He Says: “I want to be a big name in UK business…..I’m everything. I’m all mouth. I’m a doer. I’m a leader.”

Felicity Jackson

Fired week 4 for being erm.. indecisive. Felicity Jackson
Age: 23 Occupation: Entrepreneur Creative Arts Lives: London
Felicity worked at a hairdressers as a teenager before going into children’s entertainment and eventually setting up her own company specialising in career development for actors. An avid fan of soaps and a trained actress, Felicity compares herself to Kanya King and is inspired by the T-Mobile brand.
She says: “Lord Sugar will probably find it difficult to ever say anything negative to me because I always turn it round to a positive.”

Ellie Reed

Fired week 5 for just not being there and staying in the background. Ellie Reed
Age: 33 Occupation: Managing Director – Construction Recruitment Lives: Yorkshire
The Bradford born entrepreneur started her working life with a paper round and eventually went on to start a new business during a recession, playing a crucial role in helping the company become one of the most successful in its market. Golf lover Ellie describes herself as ‘positive, fun and driven’ and once chased a burglar out of her house at 17.
She says: “I don’t like lazy people… dole dossers that don’t want to work. I don’t like posh kids who have everything on a plate.”

Vincent Disneur

Fired week 5 with an impressive record of 5 losses and no win. Must be an Apprentice record. Even his charm couldn't help him get fired after saving his mate Jim from the boardroom carnage. See ya Vince. Vincent Disneur
Age: 29 Occupation: Sales Manager – Telecoms Software Lives: Canterbury
Half-Belgian and half-Swiss, Glasgow-born Vincent is a film buff and frequent traveler with a penchant for theatre. The self confessed perfectionist who was a Liverpool mascot as a child, names Bill Gates and Richard Branson as role models and would love to have been the brains behind Microsoft.
He Says: “My positive approach and very good looks make me stand out from the crowd.”

Edna Agbarha

Fired week 6 for trying to steal everyone else's thunder and credit. Edna Agbarha
Age: 36 Occupation: Business Psychologist Lives: London
One of ten siblings, London born Edna rose from working life as a teenager on her uncle’s Covent Garden market stall to her first position as a Business Psychologist and coach. Edna holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology, two Masters degrees and enjoys cycling in her free time.
She says: “Weak people in business are a waste of space and a limp handshake is unforgiveable.”

Glenn Ward

Fired week 7 for just not being there and an engineer. Glenn Ward
Age: 28 Occupation: Senior Design Engineer Lives: Hertfordshire
Glenn Ward took apart and rebuilt an entire computer aged 8 and his entrepreneurial streak ensued when he began washing cars in his local area at age 14. An amateur footballer, Glenn cites Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg as his inspiration and describes himself as ‘an intelligent man with a dry sense of humour’ who can ‘read between the lines’.
He Says: “Aggression isn’t the best form of strength…I bring a marriage of technical thinking with a bit of salesman bravado.”

Leon Doyle

Fired week 8 for just not doing anything on the task but make excuses about not being able to speak French! Poor excuse. Leon Doyle
Age: 26 Occupation: Fast Food Marketing Entrepreneur Lives: Leeds
Harrogate born Leon, a former paper boy and lorry driver, describes himself as ‘charming, genuine and honest’. Leon, who survived a near fatal fall from a tree at the age of 12 once completed the Great North Run for charity. A Director and Founder of an online takeaway ordering site and publishing business, Leon notes Richard Branson and Apple as inspirational.
He Says: “I don’t like your gimmicky salesman who thinks he can sell ice to an Eskimo. Chances are he probably can’t, and why would an Eskimo buy ice”.

Zoe Beresford

Fired week 9 for working in the food business and not getting any sales what so ever in the biscuit task with a truly bad biscuit. Zoe Beresford
Age: 26 Occupation: Project Manager – Drinks Manufacturer Lives: Cheshire
Born in Stoke on Trent, Zoe joined her family firm straight from university and played an integral role in the company’s development working in sales and marketing. Zoe, who bought a house with her sister at the age of just 12, describes her attitude as not ‘why’ but ‘why not’. Zoe was awarded the ‘Rolls-Royce Manufacturing Technology Prize’ for the highest dissertation mark in the school of engineering.
She says: “I will do whatever it takes to win.”

Melody Hossaini

Fired week 10 for not really identifying the 'hot 'seller and managing the team badly. Melody Hossaini
Age: 26 Occupation: Founder & Director – Global Youth Consultancy Business Lives: Midlands
Born in Iran, Melody lived in four different countries before settling in the UK. Melody who speaks five languages, set up a renowned UK youth organisation at the age of 13 and has won the ‘Woman of the Future’ award for her voluntary work. Global Youth Sector Entrepreneur Melody has previously worked with 12 Nobel peace prize winners including Desmond Tutu, Dalai Lama, Sherin Ebadi and was trained on climate change by Al Gore.
She says: “Don’t tell me the sky’s the limit when there are footprints on the moon.”

Natasha Scribbins

Fired week 11 for losing energy and her 'fizz' over the 11 week process. Natasha Scribbins
Age: 31 Occupation: Divisional Manager – Recruitment Lives: London
German born Natasha achieved only five GCSEs but went on to graduate from University with a Bachelors Degree in International Hospitality Management. Happy to get her hands dirty Natasha worked cleaning the bakeries of a major retail chain at the age of 15 before venturing into business. An avid fitness fanatic, Natasha is inspired by the Nike brand for their representation of women in sport.
She says:”I’m like a really fine tuned switch. If I need to turn it down then I turn it down. If I need to turn it up then I turn it up.”

Susan Ma

Fired during the final for being optimistic over making £1million profits in the 1st year of her cosmetics business. Susan Ma
Age: 21 Occupation: Natural Skincare Entrepreneur Lives: Croydon
Born in Shanghai, adrenaline junkie Susan moved to Australia at the age of six before eventually settling in London aged 13. With her mum having no grasp of English, Susan succeeded in getting herself into a school despite her young age and went on to study Philosophy and Economics at University. She describes herself as ‘ambitious, optimistic and easy going’. Her first ever job was working on a market stall selling skin care products which she has now turned into a lucrative business.
She says: “I’m short, sweet and smiley but when I do business I mean business.”

Jim Eastwood

1st of the final 4 to get the boot after his business plan was too 'directed' towards Lord Sugar's heart. Jim Eastwood
Age: 32 Occupation: Sales & Marketing Manager Lives: Northern Ireland
Jim started work in his father’s fish & chip shop chipping potatoes from the age of nine and went on to maintain top sales performances as a Sales and Marketing Manager. Jim, who was All Ireland cycling champion as a teenager, champions Richard Branson and describes himself as ‘driven, self-motivated, resilient and an eternal optimist.’
He Says: “I’m not a show pony or a one-trick pony, I’m not a jack-ass or a stubborn mule, and I’m definitely not a wild stallion that needs to be tamed. I am the champion thoroughbred that this process requires.”

Helen Milligan

Helen would have won the 'normal' Apprentice but didn't have the entrepreneurial 'spark' for this series. Helen Milligan
Age: 30 Occupation: Executive Assistant to CEO Lives: Northumberland
Stockport born Helen describes herself as ‘calm, loyal and tenacious’ and enjoys reading in her free time. A keen swimmer, she studied Law at University and climbed the ranks from part time work as a waitress to managing a restaurant before landing her role as Executive Assistant to the CEO of Greggs bakery.
She says: “I see my job as my complete life. I work 24/7. There isn’t a cut off.”